ServiceNow CFO says leaders working 14 hours and getting 4 hours of sleep set a ‘terrible example’ for their employees

ServiceNow’s chief financial officer has criticized the example set by leaders who work 14-hour days while getting only four hours of sleep.

The warning highlights a tension in corporate culture: executives often emphasize the importance of completing projects and maintaining high workplace standards, yet may overlook the role of rest in sustaining performance.

Leadership and the message to employees

According to the CFO, extreme schedules do more than affect the leaders themselves. They can also shape how employees understand expectations at work. Leaders who present exhaustion and long hours as normal may give staff the impression that rest is inconsistent with commitment.

The comments challenge a familiar sports comparison used in business. Corporate leaders often talk about getting a project “across the finish line,” but the source notes that many do not carry over the value athletes place on recovery and rest.

Why the warning matters

The issue is not whether demanding projects require effort. Rather, it is the example set at the top of an organization. Workplace standards are influenced by leadership behavior, including how executives approach time, energy and recovery.

The source provides no details about a specific policy or business outcome at ServiceNow. Its central message is that leaders should recognize how their own working patterns may affect employees and workplace expectations.